Climate Change Chart of Curacao, Curaçao

Overview of climate changes

Changes in rainfall

Mean daily rainfall was lower in the more recent period, with a difference of -0.97 mm/day averaged across calendar months. This is an unweighted comparison of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average or a monthly rainfall total. The largest monthly decrease occurred in May, with a difference of -2.25 mm/day in mean daily rainfall. By contrast, September had the largest monthly increase, at +0.30 mm/day; these are month-specific differences and do not imply that rainfall moved in the same direction in every month.

Temperature changes

Monthly mean temperature was higher in the more recent reference period, with a difference of +1.00 °C averaged across calendar months; this is a comparison of monthly means, not daytime maximum temperatures, and does not describe every individual month. The largest monthly increase was in September, at +1.25 °C. This identifies the strongest increase among the reported monthly differences, rather than a continuous change between the reference periods.

Changes in sunshine duration

Mean daily sunshine duration showed a small positive difference of +0.05 hours/day averaged across calendar months. This summarizes the unweighted monthly means, rather than day-weighted annual sunshine or conditions on every day. The largest monthly increase was in May, at +0.55 hours/day hours per day. The largest decreases were shared by March / September, each with a difference of -0.12 hours/day; these contrasting monthly results qualify the modest mean difference.